Chapter 14

I’ve seen many people in love. Their feverish eyes never looked at me, the one listening to their concerns, but always at someone else they were picturing.

So having those heated eyes directed at me felt strange. And the fact that the one looking at me like that was the Flower Knight, Hector Alderde, was a reality I could hardly believe. I wished it were a misunderstanding, but I had no choice but to accept it.

(…Right after deciding to become friends, this happens, huh.)

I think I can become friends with him, but not lovers. I had been cheering on Hector’s love before knowing the person involved, but if that person is me, then that’s a different story.

Even just being friends would probably bring down a storm of jealousy if discovered, so if I were to become his lover, that rain might very well turn into sharp spears. I’m definitely not prepared to be showered in spears.

「…Can I call you Cyril-chan?」

「I told you to please not do that…」

「No, you know, like proof that we’ve gotten closer?」

He said that with a cheerful smile, but inside he seemed incredibly restless, surprised, embarrassed, and all over the place. It reminded me of when I received a ring from Kai. It was like he had just realized his feelings and was right in the middle of confusion.

As I let go of his hand, I held back a sigh that almost escaped. I didn’t know what to do in situations like this. For now, I’d just pretend not to notice and act like usual. …Though I had a feeling I’d end up being a bit distant anyway.

「Isn’t it fine to keep calling me what you did when you thought of me as a friend? It’s just my perception that’s changed.」

「That’s… true, I guess.」

Yes, we had only just acknowledged each other as friends. There’s no way that could change immediately. Especially since my feelings couldn’t keep up.

I had just decided to become friends, and then his feelings came to light, I was confused too. I was trying not to show it, but I couldn’t calm down, and it felt like I wouldn’t be able to interact with Hector as casually as before.

「Hey, Cyril-san. Um… could you maybe do that fortune-telling thing for me?」

「…I can.」

He was buying medicine, so I wouldn’t refuse, but judging from the predictive line above his head, there was only one possible topic he’d ask about. And honestly, that was… troublesome.

I had never imagined being in a situation where someone would consult me about their feelings for me, and I’d have to respond while pretending not to know.

「I’ve fallen for someone… What do you think would happen if I confessed to her right now?」

「…I think you’d definitely be rejected.」

I didn’t even need to look at the predictive line to know the answer. I couldn’t accept his confession.

Hector’s smile deepened, but it seemed my answer had hurt him, as a shade of sadness spread above him. …I felt a bit guilty.

「Well, the future can change depending on your actions, so… please don’t get too depressed.」

I ended up saying that to cheer him up, but as I did, I felt conflicted. If his love were to come true, that would mean I’d feel the same way, but I couldn’t imagine a future where that happened and made him happy.

The color of sadness above his head disappeared, so it seemed he had regained some optimism. I felt relieved that his mood had lifted, but at the same time, I couldn’t support that love and even wished he’d give up. It was a complicated feeling.

「Yeah, then I’ll do my best. I should head home for today. See you.」

「Yes, see you…」

I swallowed the words 「You don’t have to try so hard」 watched him leave, and let out a deep sigh. Too many shocking things had happened, and my head was in chaos.

(…What should I do?)

Restless, I wandered around and eventually found myself in front of a full-length mirror. As always, I couldn’t see anything above my own head. I wished I could. …Even though these were supposed to be my own feelings, I didn’t really understand what I was thinking.

(I’m confused. I don’t feel unpleasant… Am I’m happy… well, maybe… I am…?)

Being liked isn’t a bad thing. It troubled me, but I didn’t dislike it. I didn’t dislike Hector either, I even liked him enough to want to be friends.

But when it comes to romantic feelings, I don’t understand. I’ve seen many people in love and given them advice, but I’ve never experienced it myself. I didn’t even have friends before, so I don’t even know what a normal friendship is like.

…What do people do when they know their friend has romantic feelings for them? I have no idea. And since I don’t have any friends besides Hector, there’s no one I can ask.

(I don’t hate it, and I don’t want to distance myself from a friend I just made, but…)

What will Hector do? Judging by his attitude before leaving, it didn’t seem like he intended to remain just friends.

(But can Hector-san even be in a relationship…? Not that I should be the one saying that.)

I already knew he was in love. But considering his personality and circumstances, I had thought it would be impossible for that love to succeed. It would take someone extraordinary, someone who could understand his difficult personality and hidden feelings, and either stay hidden from the girls chasing him, escape them, or face them head-on with an unbreakable will. …I hadn’t expected that person to be me. Even if I might manage the first part, the latter was impossible.

(…For now, observe and maintain the status quo. Hector-san and I are just friends, nothing more, nothing less.)

Since I can see emotions, pretending not to notice will be difficult, but I have no choice but to try. That was the resolution I made that afternoon.

Unable to focus on my mixing work, I decided to move my body instead and started cleaning the shop. Just as I was thinking of taking a break, I heard a knock on the back door.

「Cyril, are you there?」

「Jean-san…? I’ll open it right away, just a moment.」

It was unusual for him to visit on a day off. He often came to check on work, but what could have happened?

Feeling a bit uneasy, I opened the door to find Jean’s usual smiling face. There was nothing alarming above his head either, so I asked in relief, 「What is it?」

「Yeah, actually, it seems a monster has appeared.」

「…Not a magical beast, but a monster?」

I couldn’t help but frown. Magical beasts appearing near town wasn’t uncommon, and the knights usually dealt with them quickly, so there was no need to worry. The knights were used to fighting them, and serious injuries were rare.

But monsters were different. They were nearly extinct creatures, and very few people had real combat experience against them. There would likely be many injuries, and if unlucky, some might even suffer magical contamination.

「Yeah. It’s about a day’s ride from here, but the knights stationed in this town are sending a subjugation unit too. There’s been an order to gather medicine, so I came to ask you.」

「I understand. I’ll prepare what I can. Should I deliver it to the garrison?」

「No, that’d be heavy for you, right? I’ll carry it, just pack the medicine into boxes.」

「Thank you. Please wait a moment.」

I packed disinfectant, wound medicine, hemostatic agents, bandages, and anything else useful into empty wooden boxes. As I worked, the face that came to mind was my smiling friend.

He was highly regarded among the knights, so he’d likely be part of the subjugation unit. Thinking that made my chest feel unsettled. …This was probably worry.

(His right hand is just starting to heal. If he gets magical contamination again, it might worsen.)

What if he gets seriously injured? Will my medicine be enough? Thinking in circles, I finished packing and closed the lids. Two large boxes and one small one. Jean said he’d carry them, but I could manage the small one.

「Jean-san, I’m done.」

「Alright, I’ll take these right away. Leave it to me.」

「Thank you. …I think I can carry the small one, so I’ll come too.」

「Really? Then I’ll count on you for that.」

I bolted the back door, went around to the front, and locked up. Carrying the small box, I followed behind Jean, who easily lifted the two large ones.

…We were heading to the garrison, and I didn’t even know if Hector, who had taken the day off, would be there. But I came anyway, thinking I might get to see him.

(Maybe if I see his predictive line… I can feel reassured…)

This morning, there had been no sign of injury. Maybe it didn’t appear because it wasn’t planned, or maybe because it was too far in the future. Even if I saw it now, I might not be able to tell if he’d be injured. Still… I wanted to see his face.

(…………Maybe it’s because we became friends. That’s why I’m this worried.)

Someone close going far away, just that was enough to stir old wounds in my heart.

My grip tightened on the box. The road to the garrison felt unbearably long.

「We’re here, Cyril. We’ll hand these over at the back entrance, so follow me.」

「…Yes.」

Standing before the stone building, I swallowed.

…Being worried about my friend made me completely forget, I had always tried to stay away from this place.